Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides) also know as Black Bass and green trout. They are caught throughout much of the continental United States and all of Louisiana. Largemouth Bass can be identified by their olive to green coloring with a black stripe down the side and a whitish belly. They have a large mouth that extends past the eye, smooth tongue, and a dorsal fin that is almost seperate. They grow to a maximum size of a little more than 20lbs. Largemouth Bass can be found in most lakes and streams of the state and even can be found in the brackish marsh.
Largemouth Bass are the most popular gamefish in the United States. Largemouth Bass can be caugth year round in Louisiana but the winter is not considered a good time to target bass. They become lethargic in colder water and therefore; are much harder to catch in the winter. Largemouth Bass or structure oriented, so when fishing for them you must always fish some type of structure. Structure can be anything that is not flat uneventful, barren bottom.
Key Notes and Tips:
- Bass feed primarily on smaller fish and on crawfish but also eat eels, frogs, shrimp, small crabs, and have even been known to eat small birds and mice.
- Bass are caught on a wide assorment of baits. Here is a list of some – spinner baits, spoons, plastic worms, jigs, crankbaits, and jerk baits
- Similiar species include the spotted bass. They can be distingued from Largemouth Bass due to mouth on spotted bass not being quite as large and presense of a tongue with small teeth on it. The spotted bass also has spots on its lower half of its body.
- Here is a quick tip amoung hundreds possible, using lighter line can make a big difference in the number of stikes you get.
- Here is a photo of a nice catch of Largemouth Bass.